A method and apparatus for obtaining carbon fiber from carbon fiber waste (e.g., pre-preg and CFP waste). The method and apparatus selects, or is controlled to select, between using an oxygen free pyrolytic process to volatilize the epoxy resin or other matrix in which the fibers are held to liberate the fibers therefrom and, depending upon the type of pre-preg waste, using a reactor environment where the reactor atmosphere has about 1% to about 2% oxygen by volume. The reactor has a counterflow such that the carbon fibers are moved in one direction and the off gasses are moved in the opposite direction. A combination of steam at the reactor outlet and vacuum pressure at the reactor inlet create the counter flow.

A waste management system for plastic or other material floating on the surface and in the subsurface of a body of water. A shredding device will reduce the size of the particles of waste. Ocean water is removed by a drying device. The dried waste material is frozen to a temperature at or below minus fifty degrees Fahrenheit, using liquid nitrogen or other suitable means. The frozen waste material is then pulverized and ground into a powder. The powder may then be sprayed into a gas-filled chamber and heated. Temperature, pressure and humidity are maintained within the chamber for more than one minute. Microwave or other radiation and catalysts may be used to enhance the process of extraction. The processed material is then removed from the chamber. Carbon may be recycled or used as fuel by the ship. Water may be used by the ship or returned to the ocean.

A method of producing synthesis gas is provided. The method includes feeding a waste plastic feedstock into a partial oxidation gasifier. The waste plastic feedstock includes one or more vitrification materials. The method also includes partially oxidizing the waste plastic within the partial oxidation gasifier to produce the synthesis gas.

Processes and facilities for using one or more PET-containing materials as a feedstock to a chemical recycling facility, and in particular a solvolysis facility, are provided herein. The PET-containing materials used as feedstock may comprise a quantity of PET-containing dry fines. The PET-containing dry fines may be derived from various processes and facilities, including PET reclaimer facilities and/or manufacturers of PET articles. For example, the dry fines may be collected from solid-liquid separators and/or dust collectors from processes that include conveying, drying, densification, centrifugation processes, and/or grinding PET-containing plastic material. Such dry fines are generally undesirable or unusable to mechanical PET recycling facilities, and typically are sent to landfills and/or incinerators. However, the processes and facilities described herein make use of the PET and other plastics present in these otherwise undesirable or unusable dry fines.

Process for feeding plastic material, e.g. a plastic waste, to a processor such as a thermochemical reactor, e.g. a pyrolysis reactor. The process comprises an optional shredder or disintegrator (1), a conveying system (2), a feed hopper (3) with a lock hopper or rotary valve, a melting tank (6) with an agitator (5) followed by a melt pump (7) for the delivery of molten plastic to the processor. The advantage of the current process includes the ability to supply a consistent, metered flow to the processor, independent of the recycled plastic's melt properties, or the form or particle size and distribution of the plastic material.

Chemical recycling facilities for processing mixed plastic waste are provided herein. Such facilities have the capability of processing mixed plastic waste streams and utilize a variety of recycling facilities, such as, for example, solvolysis facility, a pyrolysis facility, a cracker facility, a partial oxidation gasification facility, an energy generation/energy production facility, and a solidification facility. Streams from one or more of these individual facilities may be used as feed to one or more of the other facilities, thereby maximizing recovery of valuable chemical components and minimizing unusable waste streams.

Clean, safe and efficient methods, systems, and processes for utilizing thermolysis methods to processes to convert various carpet, rug, polymeric materials and other waste sources, such as solid waste, tires, manure, auto shredder residue, glass and carbon fiber composite materials, municipal solid wastes, medical wastes, waste wood and the like into a Clean Fuel Gas and Char source are disclosed. The invention processes the carpet, rug, polymeric material to effectively shred and/or grind the waste source, such as post-consumer carpet remnants and waste, and then process using thermolysis methods to destroy and/or separate halogen and other dangerous components to provide a Clean Fuel Gas and Char source. Additional waste sources, such as solid waste, tires, manure, auto shredder residue, glass and carbon fiber composite materials, municipal solid wastes, medical wastes, waste wood and the like, are suitable for the processing of the invention disclosed.

A carbon fiber recycling method utilizes a carbon fiber recycling device for recycling carbon fiber from a carbon fiber polymer composite by using a microwave. The carbon fiber recycling device has a cavity and at least one microwave supplying unit. The carbon fiber recycling method adjusts the microwave supplying unit to change the angle between the long axis direction of the cavity and the electric field direction, and to make the long axis direction of the carbon fiber parallel to the electric field direction. By radiating the microwave on the carbon fiber polymer composite, energy of the microwave is quickly absorbed by the carbon fiber to quickly increase a temperature of the carbon fiber, and the carbon fiber polymer composite is effectively and quickly decomposed to remove most polymer matrix of the carbon fiber polymer composite, so as to achieve the objective of recycling the carbon fiber indeed.

Chemical recycling facilities for processing mixed plastic waste are provided herein. Such facilities have the capability of processing mixed plastic waste streams and utilize a variety of recycling facilities, such as, for example, solvolysis facility, a pyrolysis facility, a cracker facility, a partial oxidation gasification facility, an energy generation/energy production facility, and a solidification facility. Streams from one or more of these individual facilities may be used as feed to one or more of the other facilities, thereby maximizing recovery of valuable chemical components and minimizing unusable waste streams.

Facilities and systems for handling of particulate plastic solids obtained from a mixed waste plastic separation system are provided. The facilities comprise at least one enclosed structure and an elongate overhead conveyor associated with the at least one enclosed structure that is configured to selectively deposit the particulate plastic solids into a plastic solids transport system that interconnects the handling facility and a plastic chemical recycling facility and/or at least one inventory pile within the at least one enclosed structure.